Sensing Success - Victor Ludorum

Joe Carbone - Thursday June 20

From time to time it pays to think outside the box, the pivotal yet very tricky aspect of breeding a thoroughbred with commercial appeal is finding a stallion that is not so much flavor of the month now but has the potential to set off some bells into the future.

Victor Ludorum

After all it takes a minimum of 2 years from conception to sale and what may be in favour now is definitely no certainty to have that very appeal that is needed to attract a price in the sales ring later.

It’s now more important than ever to cast a wider net in search of value. After doing a deep dive the stallion which inspired me to write this article is Darley’s almost forgotten son in Victor Ludorum.

Advertisement

His success on the track included Group 1 victories at 2 and 3, but I’m more interested in the bloodlines that got him there and what he may be able to produce moving forward.

A son of the immortal Shamardal and closely inbred to Reines De Course mare Helen Street, herself an Irish Oaks winner and more importantly responsible for giving us another immortal in Street Cry who needs no introduction but we’ll reel off a few names anyway.. Winx, Zenyatta, Shocking, Whobegotyou, Street Boss…

A double up of a mare that good can only bode well for future generations that tap into that line.

Somewhat unknown in this part of the world is Victor Ludorum’s damsire, French horse Kaldounevees who carries the line of champion stallion Caro. Kaldounevees himself a well traveled multiple stakes winner and G1 placed, sired 2 absolute standout group 1 gallopers in Ange Gabriel and Terre à Terre of the Mill Reef and Danzig lines respectively.

Only modestly received in Australia to date with 78 mares in 2022 and 85 in 2023. More traction in the northern hemisphere however covering a quality European book of 154 mares in 2022, 139 in 2023 and 67 in 2024.

Definitely worth noting too Victor Ludorum’s overseas fee of €15,000 euros in comparison to his fee of $13,750 down under for 2024.

I think we are presented here with an opportunity of what may be a sleeping giant. It’s a big yes from me.
 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Will it be a fairytale finish for Tasmanian-bred mare The Map?
Fresh from sweeping the sire awards at the 2024 Tasmanian Racing Awards this season, the Armidale Stud team is in line for another significant achievement with The Map (Alpine Eagle x This Moment) flying the flag for resident stallion Alpine Eagle in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5 November.
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 3
Here is the full list of 59 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Melbourne Cup Tips – Tara Talks Racing
Tara Talks Racing is now online having had a Sunday arvo drink or two as we go through the Cup horses, so what do Clocker and I like for this year’s Melbourne Cup?
Kiwi Longshot Hope for Cup
Grant Cooksley came tantalisingly close to getting his hands on the Melbourne Cup as a jockey, and he is hoping to rectify that on Tuesday as a trainer when he lines-up Trust In You in the two-mile feature.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
2YOs at Flemington - G3 Maribyrnong Plate Sale Mail
Juvenile racing will kick off Melbourne Cup day on Tuesday with an early start at 10.45am for the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) with nine colts and four fillies engaged.
Bellatrix Star May Back Up in G1 Champions Sprint
Te Akau and Fortuna Racing’s filly Bellatrix Star proved she is among Australia’s top sprinting three-year-olds last Saturday at Flemington, finishing second in the A$2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day
The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.